News from the Oklahoma National Guard

138th Fighter Wing opens new small arms range complex
November 19, 2024 — The 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard celebrated opening of the unit's new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, on Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex will allow for CATM training on base for Wing members and local partners. The complex includes a range with 14 lanes, a classroom, and cleaning and maintenance... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michael Meason, Oklahoma National Guard assistant adjutant general, fires the first shot in the new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex was a multi-million construction project that spanned over a one year and seven month time period. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Oklahoma National Guard hosts Leadership Oklahoma
November 19, 2024 — Members of Leadership Oklahoma gathered to learn about the Oklahoma National Guard and its role in local and national affairs at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nov. 14, 2024... MORE

Members of Leadership Oklahoma gathered to learn about the Oklahoma National Guard and its role in local and national affairs at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Tulsa, Nov. 14, 2024. The visit included briefs from both Air and Army National Guard representatives on the reach and readiness of the Oklahoma National Guard, and culminated in a ride on a UH-60 Black Hawk. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Chickasaw Nation Governor reflects on service in the Oklahoma National Guard
November 14, 2024 — Before serving nearly 40 years as the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Governor Bill Anoatubby served in his first leadership position as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard... MORE

Portrait of Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Tribe

Oklahoma National Guard Launched Effect Program, industry leaders propel cUAS modernization
November 14, 2024 — In a collaborative effort to bolster defense efforts against aerial threats, Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered with state, education and industry partners to discuss Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at the Tulsa Tech campus in Jenks, Oklahoma, Nov. 7, 2024... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Col. Shane Riley, director of the OKNG's Launched Effects program during a meeting at the Tulsa Tech campus in Jenks, Oklahoma, Nov. 7, 2024. The meeting served as a collaborative effort to bolster defense efforts against aerial threats, bringing together Oklahoma National Guard leaders and state, education and industry partners to discuss Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma Army National Guard hosts Best Warrior
November 12, 2024 — Sixteen Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard competed in the 2025 OKARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 6-8, 2024... MORE

(left-right) Spc. Wesley McLin, a resident of Moore, Oklahoma, and Sgt. Bryce Hill, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, complete the ruck march phase of the Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 8, 2024. Both Soldiers are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and participated in the OKARNG Best Warrior Competition which aims to test and recognize the skills, endurance and professionalism of the best Soldiers and NCOs within the organization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

Thunderbird Challenge Program teaches cadets no obstacle too big to overcome
November 4, 2024 — Countless servicemembers have trained at Camp Gruber Training Center throughout the years, but on Friday, CGTC hosted a unique group of future leaders - cadets from the Thunderbird Challenge Program. ... MORE

Thunderbird Challenge Program cadets climb over an obstacle during TCP’s field day at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Oct. 25, 2024. The Thunderbird Challenge Program is a 22-week tuition-free program operated by the Oklahoma Military Department and Oklahoma National Guard that provides Oklahoma students in need of school credit recovery with military-based structure, high school or GED classes, college courses, job training and essential life skills. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard welcomes newly commissioned leaders
October 28, 2024 — Thirteen newly minted Oklahoma Army National Guard second lieutenants received their first salutes as commissioned officers during a ceremony at Camp Gruber Training Center on Oct. 20... MORE

The Oklahoma Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of Officer Candidate School class 69 and 70 at Camp Gruber Training Center in Braggs, OK on Oct. 20, 2024. The ceremony honored 13 Soldiers who successfully completed all the requirements of the OCS program, making them newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the Oklahoma National Guard. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

Oklahoma National Guard helicopter, crew to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts
October 9, 2024 — At the direction of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and with approval from Governor Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma National Guard is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in South Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a request to Oklahoma for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greenville, South Carolina... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook is readied by Oklahoma National Guard members at the OKARNG Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma on Oct. 6 before deploying to South Carolina in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

At the direction of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and with approval from Governor Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma National Guard is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in South Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a request to Oklahoma for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greensville, South Carolina. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ivan Diaz)

OKGuard provides remote support to Hurricane Helene victims
October 4, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office provided remote relief for more than 750 Florida National Guard Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance... MORE

Warren Griffis, with the Oklahoma National Guard’s Family Program Office, calls Florida Army National Guard Soldiers on Oct. 1, 2024 as part of OKNG efforts to provide relief for Florida National Guard Soldiers impacted by Hurricane Helene. Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard’s Family Program Office arranged OKNG support by contacting more than 750 Florida National Guardsmen and their families who were affected by Hurricane Helene, lessening the burden of the Florida National Guard while enabling their Guardsmen to focus on responding to the devastation. (Oklahoma National Guard Photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma National Guard Hosts Wildland Fire UAS Integration Exercise
October 2, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard partnered with Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Weatherford Fire Department to host a multi-agency wildland firefighting unmanned aerial systems integration exercise at Crowder Lake near Weatherford, Oklahoma, Sept. 25-26... MORE

Sgt. Donald Underwood, an unmanned aerial systems operator with Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, operates a UAS during a multi-agency wildland firefighting unmanned aerial systems integration exercise at Crowder Lake near Weatherford, Oklahoma, Sept. 25-26. The exercise brought the Oklahoma National Guard, state and local agencies and several private UAS companies together to develop a common operating picture, ensuring all public safety teams have a shared view of a multi-agency response to events like wildland firefighting. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Video by Sgt. Reece Heck

Oklahoma Guardsmen compete to be best warrior

Oklahoma National Guard

April 23, 2023 | 2:29

Twelve of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s best Citizen-Soldiers gathered to battle it out for the title of Best Warrior at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 20-23.

At the end of the competition, Sgt. Evan Bias, a cavalry scout from Tuttle, Oklahoma, took home the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Carson Downum, a horizontal construction engineer from Claremore, Oklahoma, earned the title of Soldier of the Year.

“It’s truly an honor,” Downum said. “It’s a big deal to everybody wearing the uniform so I’m really proud and it’ll be really cool to represent and try to fight off against the other states [at regionals].”

The annual competition brings together junior enlisted Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from units across the state to test their proficiency in a variety of warrior tasks. Events included an Army Combat Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, an obstacle course, multiple marksmanship challenges, a 12-mile ruck march, and an interview before a board of sergeants major.